What Exoskeletons Learned From One Relentless User
It’s easy to assume that Robert Woo was defined by the accident that took away his ability to walk. Certainly, the day of his accident—14 December 2007—was a turning point. Woo, an architect working on the new Goldman Sachs headquarters in New York City, hadn’t attended his company’s holiday party the night before, and that morning he was the only one in the trailer that served as the construction-site office. He was bent over his laptop when, 30 floors above, a crane’s nylon sling gave way , sending about 6 tonnes of steel plummeting toward the trailer. The roof collapsed, folding Woo in half and smashing his face into his laptop, which smashed through his desk. “I was conscious throughout the whole ordeal,” Woo remembers. “It was an out-of-body experience. I could hear myself screaming in pain. I could hear the voices of the rescue workers. I heard one firefighter say, ‘Don’t worry, we’re getting to you.’” The rescue workers hauled him out of the rubble and got him to the emergency room in 18 minutes flat; with one lung crushed and the other punctured, he wouldn’t have lasted much longer. In those frantic early moments, a doctor told him that he might be paralyzed from the neck down for the rest of his life. He remembers asking the doctors to let him die. Woo simply couldn’t imagine how a paralyzed version of himself could continue living his life. Then 39 years old, he worked long hours and jetted around
On a cold December morning in 2007, Robert Woo's life took an unexpected turn. As an architect working on the new Goldman Sachs headquarters in New York City, Woo had always been a man of action, juggling long hours and frequent international travel to oversee the construction of skyscrapers. But on the 14th of December, he found himself trapped in a construction trailer 30 floors above the ground, his world collapsing around him.
Woo had chosen not to attend his company's holiday party the night before, opting instead to work alone in the trailer that served as the site office. He was bent over his laptop when disaster struck. A nylon sling from a crane above gave way, sending a massive 6-tonne steel beam plummeting toward the trailer. The roof collapsed, folding Woo in half and slamming his face into his laptop, which shattered through his desk.
Despite the harrowing ordeal, Woo remained conscious throughout the entire incident. He described it as an "out-of-body experience," recalling the pain, the voices of the rescue workers, and the firefighter's reassuring words, "Don't worry, we're getting to you." Miraculously, the rescue team managed to extract him from the rubble and transport him to the emergency room in just 18 minutes. With one lung crushed and the other punctured, his chances of survival were slim.
In those critical early moments, a doctor informed Woo that he might be paralyzed from the neck down for the rest of his life. The news was devastating. Woo, then 39, couldn't imagine how a paralyzed version of himself could continue living his life. He had two young boys, aged six months and two years, and the thought of never being able to teach them how to play ball or share in the joys of a normal life was unbearable. "I couldn't see having a life while being paralyzed from the neck down," he later reflected. "What kind of life would that be?"
Yet, as it turned out, the accident that left Woo paralyzed from the chest down would become a catalyst for change, not just for him, but for the world of exoskeleton technology. In the years that followed, Woo became an unlikely test subject for a groundbreaking new device: an exoskeleton designed to help paralyzed individuals regain mobility.
The exoskeleton, developed by Wandercraft, a Manhattan-based company, was a self-balancing marvel that promised to transform lives like Woo's. It was a device that could potentially give paralyzed individuals the freedom to walk again, or at least the ability to stand and move with greater ease. For Woo, it represented a lifeline—a chance to reclaim a semblance of his former life and redefine what it meant to be paralyzed.
In May of the following year, Woo stepped into a Wandercraft facility in New York City, clad in the exoskeleton. As he walked, albeit with the aid of the device, he demonstrated not only the potential of the technology but also his own resilience and determination. The exoskeleton, with its advanced sensors and actuators, allowed Woo to maintain balance and stability, providing him with a newfound sense of independence.
Woo's journey with the exoskeleton was far from easy. The device required extensive training and adjustment to fit his unique needs, but he persevered, driven by his desire to reconnect with his family and reclaim a sense of normalcy. Through his relentless efforts, Woo became a symbol of hope for many paralyzed individuals, proving that even in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges, there is always a way forward.
The exoskeleton that Woo wore was more than just a piece of technology; it was a testament to human ingenuity and the power of perseverance. By learning from Woo's experience, engineers and researchers were able to refine the design and functionality of the device, making it more accessible and effective for a wider range of users.
In the end, Robert Woo's accident, which once seemed like a defining moment of tragedy, became a turning point for both his life and the world of exoskeleton technology. Through his unwavering spirit and determination, Woo showed that even in the darkest of times, there is always the possibility of finding light—and a path forward.
